Chapter 23.21 — “R-3”—HIGH DENSITY MULTIPLEFAMILY DISTRICT

The purpose of the “R-3” district is to stabilize and maintain the residential character of the district for medium high density apartment living with substantial space for cooperatively used facilities and open spaces. The maximum allowable density of this district shall be thirty (30) dwelling units per acre.

(Prior code § 25-42; Ord. 72-O-119 § 1, 1972; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985; Ord. O-2022-08 § 4, 2022)

Uses permitted in the “R-3” district shall be as follows:

Multifamily uses;

Apartments;

Duplexes;

Triplexes;

Group dwellings;

Public schools when the site has been acted on by the planning commission;

Public uses, including public parks and playgrounds;

Small family day care home in a single-family dwelling. (Prior code § 25-43; Ord. 72-O-109 § 11, 1972; Ord. 84-O-116 § 2, 1984)

Uses permitted subject to obtaining a use permit in the “R-3” district shall be as follows:

Single-family dwellings, when they meet all the requirements of the “R-1” district;

Condominiums, townhomes when they meet all the requirements of the “PUD” district.

Private academic schools teaching accredited subjects;

Churches, public utility uses not including corporation or equipment yards, private nonprofit recreation facilities;

Large family day care home per Section 23.81.160 ;

Day nursery.

(Prior code § 25-44; Ord. 72-O-109 § 12, 1972; Ord. 84-O-116 § 2, 1984; Ord. 91-O-113 § 2, 1991; Ord. O-2001-03 § 3, 2001)

Prior to submission of an application for site development approval, the applicant(s) shall submit to the planning director basic site information, including aerial photos where deemed necessary by the planning director, generalized development plans, including lot sizes and open spaces proposed, existing easements, existing neighborhood development any other information which may be reasonably required by the planning director to aid and assist the planning commission in an initial consideration of the preliminary plan. The preliminary plan may be presented to the planning commission at a regular meeting for discussion by the individual commissioners. No formal action shall be taken by the planning commission regarding the preliminary plan. (Ord. 88-O-108 § 5, 1988)

Maximum allowable height in the “R-3” district shall be thirty-five (35) feet, except when located adjacent to properties zoned R-A or R-1, where the maximum height shall be thirty (30) feet, however, a thirty-five (35) foot maximum height shall be permitted when two (2) feet of additional setback is provided for every one (1) foot of additional height. (Prior code § 25-45; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985; Ord. 87-O-102, 1987)

Minimum building site area and lot width in the

“R-3” district shall be as follows:

Corner lot: Nine thousand (9,000) square feet in area and ninety (90) feet in width;

Interior lot: Eight thousand (8,000) square feet in area and eighty (80) feet in width;

School, churches and recreational uses: Forty thousand (40,000) square feet in area.

The city council, upon receipt of a report from the planning commission may approve subdivisions with less than the minimum lot widths on irregularly shaped and oddly located lots, such as those resulting from curved or angular street layouts; particularly triangular shaped corner lots, trapezoidal lots, and lots with more than four (4) lot lines; provided, however, that in no case shall the minimum frontage be less than fifty (50) feet.

(Prior code § 25-46; Ord. 454 §§ 1, 4, 1967; Ord. 72-O-109 § 13, 1972; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985)

Maximum allowable lot coverage in the “R-3” district shall be as follows:

Not more than sixty (60) percent of the total area shall be devoted to main and accessory building area, parking area, driveways, covered patios (not including lattice patio covers) and oil well enclosures. The remaining forty (40) percent of the total lot area shall be devoted to landscaping, lawn, outdoor recreation facilities incidental to residential development, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, putting greens and patios; walkways and fences. (Prior code § 25-47; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985)

Minimum front yard in the “R-3” district shall be fifteen (15) feet, fully landscaped with no encroachment except for driveways, from any street right-of-way. All of the required landscape area shall be maintained as a condition of the use.

(Prior code § 25-48; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985; Ord. 90-O-108 § 3, 1990; Ord. 90-O-117 § 7, 1990)

Minimum side yard in the “R-3” district shall be as follows:

• (1) Street side of a corner lot, ten (10) feet.

• (2) Interior lot line:

  • (A) Buildings containing living units and accessory structures not specified in subdivision (B) of this subsection, five (5) feet;

  • (B) Garages and carports, zero (0) setback may be approved, where the zero (0) setback does not abut property zoned “R-1,” or developed to “R-1” standards when the planning commission finds that an improved community will result in compliance with the purposes of this zone.

(Prior code § 25-48; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985; Ord. 90-O-108 § 4, 1990)

Minimum rear yard in the “R-3” district shall be as follows:

• (1) Street frontage, fifteen (15) feet,

• (2) Interior lot line:

  • (A) Buildings containing living units and accessory structures not specified in subdivision (B) of this subsection, ten (10) feet;

  • (B) Garages and carports, zero (0) setback may be approved, where the zero (0) setback does not abut property zoned “R-1,” or developed to “R-1” standards when the planning commission finds that an improved community will result in compliance with the purposes of this zone.

(Prior code § 25-48; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985; Ord. 90-O-108 § 5, 1990)

Minimum distance between buildings in the “R-3” district shall be as follows:

• (1) Side yard, providing access to a single row dwelling group, twelve (12) feet;

• (2) Inner court, providing access double row dwelling group, twenty (20) feet;

• (3) Between all other buildings, ten (10) feet. (Prior code § 25-49; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985)

The provisions of Chapter 23.78 shall apply in determining the amount of parking space that must be provided for each use. (Prior code § 25-50)

The provisions of Chapter 23.90 shall apply to signs in the “R-3” district. (Prior code § 25-50.1; Ord. 70-O-109 § 14, 1972)

• (a) Not less than two hundred (200) square feet of open area per family unit shall be provided onsite. The required open area shall include landscaped areas, walkways, recreation areas, and private patios and balconies which exceed fifty (50) square feet, but shall not include structures, driveways, or parking areas.

• (b) Shared outdoor recreational facilities such as swimming pools, spas, putting greens, volleyball and hard surface courts, barbecues and common patio areas, permanent children’s play equipment, or similar facilities shall be provided each multifamily development in the “R-3” district.

(Prior code § 25-51; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985)

Any development in this district shall comply with all of the provisions of Chapter 23.75 and shall further comply with all other applicable requirements of the Placentia Municipal code. (Prior code § 25-52; Ord. 85-O-105, 1985)